New Hampshire senators address state's heroin woes

New Hampshire senators work with law enforcement, others to address state's heroin problems

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire's U.S. senators are working with law enforcement leaders and public health officials to address the state's heroin epidemic.

The state has seen the number of deaths from heroin overdose go from zero in 1993 to 67 deaths last year. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who met Friday with law enforcement officials and drug abuse treatment providers in Salem, says fighting the epidemic will require a multifaceted approach. She is pushing for greater investment in local law enforcement, prescription drug monitoring, education and treatment.

Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a former attorney general, is holding a roundtable discussion on April 23 in Manchester. She says urgent action is required, and has strongly supported a law enforcement grant program aimed at ending heroin abuse and related crimes.